May 09, Colombo: Japan has said that it abstained from voting for the resolution on Sri Lanka at the 25the session of the United Nations Humana Rights Council in Geneva in March since the resolution would not help Sri Lanka.

"We considered whether the Resolution on Sri Lanka moved in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva would help Sri Lanka. We decided it will not. That is why we abstained when the vote was taken", said Seiji Kihara, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this evening (09). He is in the Island on an official visit.

"Please tell this truth to rest of the world", President Rajapaksa urged the visiting Japanese vice minister." Except for an international inquiry we are in the process of implementing all other demands made by sponsors of the Resolution," President added.

Kihara assured Japan's continued support to Sri Lanka at international fora. "We are not ready to accept biased reports prepared by international bodies. We are confident that Sri Lanka is capable of solving its problems one by one. What is needed is to engage the international community," he said.

Recalling President Rajapaksa's state visit to Japan last year Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs noted that it was instrumental in further strengthening of bilateral relations under the able leadership of the President. He expressed Japan's hope to further expand ties in economic, trade, investment and maritime security sectors.

"Japan is a close friend of ours. It is the biggest investor in Sri Lanka," President Rajapaksa observed. The hospital built in Jaffna with Japanese assistance is so far the best hospital in the country, President pointed out.

Makoto Matsuda, Director, South West Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka accompanied the Japanese parliamentary official.

Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and Mrs. Kshenuka Senevirathne, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs were also present.